The secretive mountain kingdom of Bhutan is one of the world’s great off-the-beaten-path destinations with its mountain-top temples, towering peaks and unique culture. As well as seeing the country’s highlights, we head to central Bhutan where we meander through meadows, Blue pine forests and bamboo groves, stopping in villages and meeting welcoming locals. We then witness the masked and fire dances and other festivities of one of Bhutan’s less visited festivals (Domkhar in May and Jambay Lakhang in November). Note that different departures follow different itineraries.

Walk profile

Daily distance in km/miles:

Day 7

14.0km/8.7miles

Day 8

16.0km/9.9miles

Day 9

10.0km/6.2miles

Number of days walking: 3

Pace: Leisurely: 3-4km/2-3miles an hour

Terrain: High altitude; good paths

Itinerary

Show detailed itinerary

1Day 1Start Kathmandu.

Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to our hotel. The evening is free to relax.

Today we fly to Paro. If the weather is clear we should get fantastic views of much of the eastern half of the Himalaya including Mts. Everest, Kanchenjunga and Chomolhari. Upon arrival we transfer to Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan (approx 1hr). Thimpu is a fairly small town, with a population of around 90,000, and is easy to get around. There is a certain quaintness to it and all the houses and shops are painted in traditional Buddhist styles. Today we will visit Simtokha Dzong (fort) and Tashichho Dzong, which is the centre of the Bhutanese government.See more images and videos

This morning we spend a bit more time exploring the charms of Thimpu. We will visit the Memorial Chorten, which was built in 1974 in memory of the third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, as well as a local art school and Buda Point, the site of a 50m Shakyamuni Buddha statue overlooking the city. After lunch we leave Thimpu and drive east to Punakha. The route climbs steeply in places to the Dochula Pass. At 3050m (10,000ft) the views over the eastern Himalaya are magnificent although the clouds may obscure this spectacle. We descend to the valley floor and continue to sub-tropical Punakha. At an altitude of 1350m the difference in temperature and flora is apparent. Punakha was the old capital of Bhutan and the dzong was the second one to be built in Bhutan. This remarkable fortress is built between two rivers and it has survived many fires, an earthquake and a glacial flood. Along the way it has been repaired and added to and has several interesting features to protect it against invasion. En route we will also visit Chime Lhakhang, a 15th Century monastery built to honour one of the more folkloric saints of Bhutanese tradition, Lama Drukpa Kuenley. The Lama was known for his foul-mouth, alcohol-smelling breath and insatiable lust towards women. Yet he is revered as a great saint by most Bhutanese who come from all corners of the country to visit Chime LhakhangSee more images and videos

4Day 4Visit Wangdi Dzong en route to Bumthang.

A long day today so we will leave very early for the long drive to Bumthang, often referred to as the spiritual heart of Bhutan. En route we stop at the Chendebji Chorten and visit the weavers in Chumey where we can see women weaving yak wool into traditional Bhutanese textiles known as Yathra. Passing through Trongsa we will visit the imposing Dzong and if there is time the museum set in an old watchtower (time permitting). It will be evening by the time we reach our hotel in Bumthang. Although not guaranteed the amazing fire dances which take place usually the evening before the festival starts, may be taking place.

Today we witness one of Bhutan's famous festivals' the Domkhar Festival (also known as the Bumthang Festival). Festivals in Bhutan are very colourful affairs and are a celebration of the country's greatest Buddhist saints, Guru Rimpoche. Bhutanese come together during festivals to watch various dances such as the black hat dance or the treasure dance which normally have a long history and tradition going back centuries. Most of these are masked dances and the masks themselves have an important significance. The Domkhar Festival, in Central Bhutan, is more intimate and less touristy than those in Paro or Thimpu, although there will be many tourists present on the day. After lunch there will be time to explore the festival or Bumthang itself.See more images and videos

6Day 6To Thangbi Lhakhang; trek to camp at Nglakang.

Today we start our 3-day trek. We drive to Kurje Lhakang, the starting point of our trek. There is time to look round the famous monastery before we start walking. Our path will take us through small villages, dense blue-pine forests, meadows and bamboo shrubs. We cross the river by bridge and follow the undulating trail all the way to the area called Ngang Yul, which directly translates as Swan Land after the swans which once inhabited the valley (but are, sadly, now gone). At the heart of the valley is Ngang Lhakhang (Swan Temple) at an elevation of 2,800m. The story goes that a Lama had a dream about how to build a temple, he shot an arrow into the air and where the arrow landed he built the temple. We will camp here overnight.See more images and videos

7Day 7Climb to Phelhe La; descend to Takung Valley.

Today we start a gradual ascent towards the Phephe La Pass (3,465m), the highest point on our trek. We will be passing through beautiful forested areas and will have plenty of opportunity to make stops and take in our surroundings. We have an easy descent through forest for about an hour before the valley opens out as we pass an old gateway chorten. The forest here is interspersed with clearings where animals graze on the lush grass pasture. As the valley widens we see cultivated land and herders huts. After another hour a large village comes into view - this is Takung and we camp just outside the village (2,900m). See more images and videos

8Day 8Walk to Gamling; drive via Mebar Tsho to Bumthang.

Today, the last day of our trek, we hike for 3-4 hours (10km), first up for a short while and then down all the way to Gamling (2505m) and further to Tang. From here we will be met by our vehicle and drive back to Bumthang. En route we will stop at Mebar Tsho (Flaming Lake) which gets its name from the legend of Pema Lingpa who entered the lake with a butter lamp and returned a long while later with treasures and holy books - today the lamp is still burning in the lake! Today this holy site, with its bright prayer flags, is a pilgrimage place for many Bhutanese.See more images and videos

9Day 9Fly to Paro; city tour.

We take the short internal flight from Bumthang to the beautiful broad, fertile Paro Valley, with its famous dzong overlooking the rice fields and scattered houses. The Paro valley is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Bhutan. Its blue pine-covered hills and attractive, solidly built farmhouses among the paddy fields are dominated by the massive Paro Dzong also known as Rinpung Dzong, which we will visit. We will have the opportunity to visit the National Museum which is housed in an ancient watchtower with a superb view over the valley, and contains many interesting historic and religious objects, as well as a fine collection of Bhutanese stamps.See more images and videos

10Day 10Hike to Tiger's Nest monastery.

We drive to the car park below Taktsang monastery, where we set off walking. It is an uphill hike taking 2 - 3 hours to the viewpoint cafe and is steep in places.After a tea break we continue to the monastery itself. The famous 'Tiger's Nest', is only accessible on foot but is well worth the effort. The complex clings to a huge granite cliff 800 meters above the Paro valley. It is believed that the great saint Padmasambhava came in the 7th century on a flying tigress and meditated in a cave for 3 months. The demons who were trying to stop the spread of Buddhism were subdued and he converted the Paro valley to Buddhism. During the end of the 17th century a monastery was built on the spot where the saint meditated and it is a pilgrimage site for every Bhutanese to visit once in their lifetime.See more images and videos

11Day 11Fly to Kathmandu.

We transfer to the airport to check in for our flight back to Kathmandu. The rest of the day is free for individual sightseeing or shopping. You may want to visit the famous Durbar Square in the heart of the old city. Here is the old royal palace, with its intricate woodcarving and four fine towers. Or you may wish to visit the monkey temple at Swayambhunath or take an optional trip to Bhaktapur, the medieval city a few miles east of the capital. Bhaktapur has its own Durbar Square with many temples and statues and a maze of narrow streets, which are generally quieter than the capital.

Your images

Guided Group

This is a small group guided holiday. The group is usually between 4 and 16 in size, with an average of 12 like-minded clients booking individually, in a couple or as friends together.

Activity level

You are reasonably fit, enjoy the outdoors and are looking for some exercise. Some previous experience is preferable for activity based trips.

What's included

What's included

11 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 9 dinners

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation (available on request from GBP380 - limited availability)

Visas or vaccinations

Accommodation details

Hotels & Camping

You will spend 10 nights in hotels with en suite rooms and 2 nights in full service camps. Your rooms in Bhutan will be simple, as tourism in the country is still in its infancy. All food is included and is usually a simple mix of Bhutanese, continental and Chinese served buffet style.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
You will need a visa for Bhutan, which we will organise for you. The cost of the visa is included in the price of the trip (USD20). You will need to send us a clear copy of your passport on booking. We need this in order to organise your Bhutan visa in advance of your arrival. Please make sure that we have a copy no later than 6 weeks before departure. The passport copy can either be sent by post or scanned, in which case it has to be very clear and in colour.
If you need to get a new passport for the journey, please apply for this immediately, and send us the copy/scan as soon as you receive your new passport. It is VERY important that the information you give us is 100% correct, and that the copy of the passport you send us is the one on which you will be travelling to Bhutan.
Visa regulations can change without notice: please check the current regulations in good time to obtain a visa if one is required.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Holiday style

This is a trip for anyone who wants to combine an exploration of Bhutan's fascinating culture with a gentle trek through some of its beautiful valleys. The trek is graded as A/B and the highest point reached is 3465m. There are some up-hill and down-hill sections but nothing extreme. The trek will take you through small villages, forests and meadows as you meander through the valleys of Central Bhutan.
There are a couple of longish drives and the roads in Bhutan are quite winding.
Accommodation is mostly in standard hotels though 2 nights on the trek will be in spacious 2-person tents. We also provide dining and toilet tents, stools, tables, cooking and kitchen gear and a team of support staff. All groups will be accompanied by a local Bhutanese guide, who will be supported by a cook, assistant guides and yakmen. Whilst on trek we will wake you up with a cup of hot tea, and will also provide a small bowl of warm washing water in the mornings.
Please note that smoking is technically banned in Bhutan. Tourists are permitted to smoke in certain designated areas but must bring their own cigarettes (up to 200 cigarettes). They must, however, pay duty on any tobacco product they import (up to 200% tax). Smoking in a public place can result in a fine as long you have proof of having paid the duty. If no proof of having paid the duty can be produced then there is the risk of a minimum 3 years imprisonment.

Eating & drinking

Breakfast is included throughout the trip and all food is provided in Bhutan. The meals in the hotels in Bhutan are usually buffet style and include Bhutanese and Western food. The food in Bhutan can sometimes be a bit bland. The meals on trek are a mixture of Bhutanese, western and Chinese. Please allow approx. GBP20-25 per day for other main meals in Kathmandu.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want
to know about this trip, including detailed itinerary and full kit list.

Weather & seasonality

You will experience a range of temperatures during the trip depending on the altitude. During the day temperatures will be approx. 10degC-20degC. At night in autumn it may reach freezing but the temperature will normally be around 3degC-4degC. Although these departures do not fall inside the normal monsoon season there is always a chance of rain in Bhutan and you should be prepared for this. The temperatures are warmer in spring than in autumn.

Gallery

Reviews & community

Getting the opportunity to go to the fascinating Kingdom of Bhutan is really the trip of a lifetime. I highly recommend this trip and Exodus Travels.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The first amazing moment (and hair-raising) was our flight from Nepal into Bhutan. Flying right past the majestic snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas (and Mt Everest!) was just stunning and awe-inspiring. Just being in Bhutan is inspirational. The people are friendly, the place is mostly clean, and people ARE happy. It's a peaceful, tiny Buddhist nation with a lot of good ideals and a lot we can learn from.

What did you think of your group leader?

We had two leaders: Sonam and Dorji. Both were great! Sonam was always ready to leap and do whatever you needed. He had a lot of knowlege on the country and was happy to share all with the passengers. Dorji kept everthign organized and together. I appreciated how he checked in with the group for some group decisions with hiking and some weather issues. Both leaders are friendly, fun, and knowledgeable. I'd be remiss not to all mention our driver, Dorji. Driving is a very intense job in Bhutan with all the twists, turns, and mountain passes. He did an exceptional job.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Because of the topography of the country, be prepared for a lot of driving. Because you are on a tour with scheduled time, the driving can get tedious, but this is the nature of the beast. Our guides did allow for lots of stops which included walking some to stretch legs and the bus picking us up down the road. Also be aware that some of the hiking is strenuous. The longest hike day did take 9 hours and included a lot of rocky, uphill terrain. You should be prepared for this and possible rain.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I like that Exodus uses local tour companies and local guides. It is hard to get to really know a place in such a short time, but having local guides helped me connect more with the country and its people.

Growing up in a flat part of Ireland wasn't the most obvious starting point for a love of mountains and travel, but it's something which has been with Brendan since he first made it to Nepal 15 years ago. These days, he still tries to squeeze in a yearly trip to some corner of the globe but managing both the Customer Operations team and a young family (not at the same time) keep his hands pretty full!

A gap year that turned into several years of travelling throughout the world was when Emma first got her taste for trekking; firstly in Nepal on the Annapurna Circuit, but then across the Indian Himalaya, Africa and The Middle East. Nowadays, though based in the London office, Emma tries to get away on an annual trek. Every new route is a unique and always a fantastic experience!

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

What is the weather like in Bhutan?

Bhutan has a varied climate. Southern Bhutan has mild dry winters and hot wet summers; the monsoon starts a little earlier and continues a little longer than further west in the Himalayas. Paro, Thimpu, and the othertemperate areas of Bhutan have cold winters with sunny skies. Please note although these departures do not fall inside the normal monsoon season there is always a chance of rain in Bhutan and you should be prepared for this.You will experience a range of temperatures during the trip depending on the altitude. During the day temperatures will be approx 10°C-20°C. At night it may reach single figures but the temperature will normally stay above 10°C.

Joanna Zubr - Bhutan Operations

Can I buy any equipment in Kathmandu before the start of the trip?

Yes. There are dozens of trekking shops in the Thamel area of Kathmandu. Depending on how good your bartering skills are, you can usually pick up items for about one third of the price that you'll pay in the UK...and its more fun to bargain! However, please note we cannot guarantee the quaility of anything you may purchase so buyer beware.

David Richardson - Sales

What is the standard of hotels in Bhutan?

The hotels are usually good tourist class hotels, have twin rooms with en suite facilities, reliable electricity and water supply, good service and some added amenities. Sometimes, depending on the location, the standard of hotels may be slightly lower, but we will always do our best to source the most suitable option.

Emma Garrick - Product Manager

Ant good local restuarants I should try in Bhutan?

Plums Café on the second floor of a building near the Clock Tower in downtown Thimpu offers Continental/ Chinese and Bhutanese food doing mostly buffet at lunch time. Cheese momos (dumplings) and Keewa datsi (a cheese and chilli dish) with red rice is a Bhutanese dish really worth trying. Should you fancy some pastries or muffin Swiss Bakery is the place to check out which is across the street from the restaurant!

Joanna Zubr - Bhutan Operations

How do I get a visa for Bhutan?

You will need a visa for Bhutan, which we will organise for you. The cost is payable on entry to Bhutan and is currently US$20 in cash. You will need to send us a clear copy of your passport on booking so that we can organise the Bhutan visa. Please make sure that we have a copy no later than 4 weeks before departure. Please also take 2 passport photos with you as these will be used locally for your visa.

Joanna Zubr - Bhutan Operations

What can I do with free time in Bhutan?

Should you be in Thimpu during the weekend, it is worth checking out the local weekend market at the end of the town (beside the National Stadium). This is where most of the town residents come to buy their week’s supply of fresh food and vegetables (everything from cheese to the chillies that the Bhutanese love!) from the farmers. This is a great place for people watching and also some souvenir shopping as there are stalls selling all kinds Bhutanese/ Tibetan products. Do try your bargaining skills as there is no fixed price of the products on sale!

Niraj Chand Shrestha - Customer Operations

Any good tips for eating out in Kathmandu?

Head down to the Everest Steak House in southern Thamel for a mouth watering steak and chips, well earned if you’re just back from trek. Finish it off with a cocktail in the legendary Tom & Jerry bar up the road!

You can also head to Fire and Ice Pizzeria in Thamel, a great place with casual indoor and outdoor eating which is popular amongst travellers, and locals alike. This restaurant is a great place to meet for a morning cup of Italian espresso, or a hearty meal of delicious pizzas, pastas, ice cream and even a Grappa!

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

Exodus staff - expertise on hand to help

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!

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